History Will Be Made

With games 1 through 6 all decided by a single goal, the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals' quarterfinal series was already set to be one for the books, as such a feat had never been accomplished prior in NHL history. With game 7 looming, analysts everywhere hesitatingly made their picks, unsure of which team the edge belonged to. But in a series so close, it doesn't matter who has the edge.

    It matters who makes that final mistake.

    Living up to the standards set by their previous 6 matches, the Bruins and Capitals took their final game past regulation, deadlocked in a 1-1 tie. Boston arguably got the better of the scoring chances, but rookie goaltender sensation Braden Holtby thwarted their every attempt, save Seguin's lone desperation tally amidst a mad second period scramble.

    So, much like the start to last year's historic cup run, the Black and Gold once again found themselves on the doorstep of game 7 overtime to advance past the quarterfinals. Perhaps they were more experienced, more poised, thanks to last year's trials. But that's the funny thing about overtime, especially to close out a series.

    Anything can happen. Just like that, one genuine contender will be left to clean out their lockers while the other heads back to practice to gear up for their next match.

    Chances were traded, hits were mutually delivered and shots were taken on both ends in this match-up of the 2nd and 7th seeds. But when Brad Marchand danced his way through the sea of Capital defensemen towards the front of the goal, it felt as though magic was about to happen for the defending champs. A slick pass to Bergeron on the empty side of the net resulted in a shank mere inches away from the net mouth, putting Bergeron's hero status on hold.

    Then, it was the Capitals' turn. A blocked Bruins dump-in from the neutral zone gave Washington a 2-on-1, and they made it count.

    They made the defending Stanley Cup champions pay for their one slight miscue.

    As the Capitals pilled on top of their savior Joel Ward, drunk with victory and yelling deliriously, the Boston Bruins conversely stood in a stunned silence, quiet other than to comfort their upset goaltender. Up and down the bench heads were hung low in shock, and players on the ice looked up to the heavens in desperation as though they hoped the scoreboard would tell them some different result.

    With vacant stares brimming with regret and utter disbelief, the Bruins readied themselves to congratulate their opponent on a series well fought and won. Then, it would be off to a locker room much more somber than the ones following the game 7s of last year.

    And while Washington's crew will look back upon that overtime with delight, every missed chance and mistake will haunt the Bruins until they can use next season to put those nightmares behind them. Bergeron will lament his blown opportunity, whomever it was who blasted his shot off of a Capital instead of the boards will dream of a different angle taken, and of course, reigning Conn Smythe winner Tim Thomas will look back in hindsight on how he could've made that crucial save to give his team a few more chances.

    Although it is rather unfortunate to see the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins derailed so soon from their quest to be the first team to repeat since Detroit did it in the 90s, therein promotes the allure that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. The parity alone is remarkable, and lends itself to the harsh reality that anything can happen, for better or worse.

    Honestly, one of the most exciting parts of the playoffs this year will be the mystery of having a new champion to be crowned. As much as it benefits not the dear Black and Gold, it does wonders for the league and sport as a whole, and makes the hockey over the next couple of months something worth watching, even if Rene Rancourt won't be the one belting out the anthem pregame.